Car insurance group 33: cars and cost (UK 2026)
A group 33 car typically costs a mid-range driver about £1,100–£1,600 a year for comprehensive cover in 2026 — higher than average because these are premium models, larger SUVs and many EVs.
What car insurance group 33 means
Every car sold in the UK is placed in one of 50 insurance groups (1–50), where group 1 is the cheapest to insure and group 50 the dearest. The ratings are set by the Group Rating Panel, administered by Thatcham Research on behalf of the Association of British Insurers (ABI), and are based on repair and parts costs, repair times, new-car value, performance and security.
Group 33 sits in the upper-middle of the scale — roughly two-thirds of the way up. It is not a supercar band, but it is well above the cheap groups (1–10) that new drivers are steered towards. Cars here are typically well-specified premium saloons and estates, mid-size and larger SUVs, hot hatches and a growing number of electric models, whose higher values and pricier parts push repair costs up. Cars registered from August 2024 also carry a separate 1–99 Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR), but the familiar 1–50 group is still what most quote engines display.
Remember: the group is only one ingredient in your premium. Your age, postcode, claims history, annual mileage and job usually move the price more than the group itself. The overall UK average premium is around £600, so a group 33 car generally costs more than average — but a careful older driver in a low-risk postcode can still beat the headline figures below.
Indicative group 33 premiums in 2026
The table below shows indicative annual comprehensive premiums for a typical group 33 car by driver age band. These are illustrative planning figures, not quotes — your own price depends heavily on postcode, mileage, no-claims discount and the exact model.
| Driver age band | Indicative annual premium (comprehensive) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 17–24 | £2,600–£4,200 | Young/new drivers pay the most; a black box can cut this sharply |
| 25–34 | £1,300–£1,900 | Falls fast as experience and no-claims build |
| 35–64 | £1,100–£1,600 | The typical mid-range driver figure quoted above |
| 65+ | £1,200–£1,800 | Edges up again at older ages |
Sources: indicative 2026 planning ranges built from Thatcham Research / ABI group-rating context and market averages reported by Confused.com and Finder (which lists a blended group 33 average near £761 across all ages). Figures are illustrative, not quotes; actual premiums vary widely by postcode, history and model.
Cars often rated around group 33
Insurance groups vary by exact trim, engine and model year, so the same nameplate can span several groups. The models below are examples frequently rated in or around group 33 — always check the specific variant with a group checker before you buy.
- BMW 3 Series (higher-powered petrol and 330e plug-in hybrid trims often land around groups 32–36).
- Audi A5 / A6 mid-to-high trims — premium saloons and coupés with pricey parts.
- Volvo XC60 and similar mid-size premium SUVs.
- Jaguar F-Pace and Land Rover Discovery — larger premium SUVs with high repair costs.
- Volkswagen ID.4 and comparable family EVs, whose battery and parts costs lift the group.
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class / E-Class in higher-specification versions.
Sportier options such as the Toyota GT86 / GR86 also sit close to this band. Because a model's group depends on the precise version, treat these as a guide rather than a guarantee — use a car insurance by vehicle lookup to confirm your exact car.
How to pay less in group 33
- Compare widely and early. Quote 20–26 days before renewal — last-minute quotes cost more.
- Build and protect no-claims discount. It is one of the biggest levers on price at any group.
- Increase your voluntary excess sensibly — only to a level you could actually afford to pay on a claim.
- Add an experienced named driver where genuine and permitted (never "fronting").
- Pay annually rather than monthly to avoid interest, and set a realistic mileage.
- Consider telematics (a black box) if you are a younger driver — it can meaningfully cut the 17–24 figures above.
- Improve security — an approved alarm/tracker and off-road parking can reduce the premium.
Group 33 car insurance: common questions
Group 33 is on the expensive side. It sits about two-thirds of the way up the 1–50 scale, so it costs more than average to insure — a mid-range driver typically pays around £1,100–£1,600 a year against a UK average near £600. It is not the priciest band, though; groups 41–50 cost considerably more.
Thatcham Research and the ABI set groups mainly on parts and repair costs, how long repairs take, the car's new value, performance (power and 0–60 time) and security features. Higher values, expensive parts and stronger performance push a car towards higher groups like 33.
Use a free group checker — enter your registration or select the exact make, model, year and trim. Comparison sites such as Confused.com and Compare the Market offer checkers, or use our car insurance by vehicle tool. Always check the specific variant, as trims of the same model can span several groups.
If you want a similar car for less, look at lower-powered trims of the same model, or step down a few groups. Cars in groups 10–20 — mainstream family hatchbacks and smaller SUVs — usually cost noticeably less to insure while offering comparable practicality. See group 32 for the next band down.
No. The group is one factor among many. Your age, postcode, claims and driving history, annual mileage, job and how you use the car often move the price more than the group. Two drivers in the same group 33 car can pay very different premiums.
Often, yes. EVs tend to sit a little higher than equivalent petrol or diesel cars because they cost more to buy and their batteries and parts can be pricier to repair. Family EVs such as the Volkswagen ID.4 commonly fall in or around this band, though this is narrowing as EV repair networks mature.
Sources and review
- Thatcham Research & the Association of British Insurers (ABI) — car insurance group rating system (1–50) and rating criteria.
- Confused.com — UK average premium data and group cost context.
- Finder UK — group 33 example cars and blended average premium.
Related: all insurance groups · UK car insurance cost index · group 32 · group 34
Reviewed by the Car Insurance Expert editorial team.
Last updated: 2026-07-06
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